Summer strikes loom in pensions fight


The ongoing row over pensions could see teachers walking out this summer after two teaching unions agreed to ballot members for strike action. The Easter trade union


conference season saw members of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) and the National Union of Teachers (NUT) agree to ballot for strike action, which it is thought would take place towards the end of June. The unions have also not ruled


out further industrial action in the autumn term. The NASUWT, which also held


its annual conference this Easter, will not be joining any action this summer and has said it will instead wait to see the outcome of government negotiations with the TUC. However, the union has not ruled out strikes this autumn. In addition, members of the


National Association of Head Teachers, are set to discuss potential industrial action over pensions during their annual conference in Brighton from April 29 to May 1. Teachers are angry after the


Hutton Review of public sector pensions recommended scrapping the teachers’ final salary pension scheme and replacing it with a scheme linked to average career earnings. The idea behind the move, which could come into effect in 2015, is to end the huge final salary pension pots for some workers. Lord Hutton is also calling for


the normal pension age in public service schemes to be linked to the State Pension Age, which is 65 but set to rise to 66 in 2020 and then to 68. Teachers are also incensed


because it comes on top of the two-year public sector pay freeze and existing proposals to increase pension contributions by 50 per cent – from 6.4 to 9.8 per cent by 2014 – which are set to see teachers paying up to £102 a month more. This could be phased in from next April. In addition, the government


has already changed the annual inflation-linked pension increase from the Retail Price Index (RPI) to the lower Consumer Price Index (CPI), which it is claimed will devalue pensions by up to 25 per cent. The ATL, which met in


Liverpool from April 18 to 20, was the first to agree to ballot. General secretary Dr Mary Bousted said these would be co-ordinated with


other unions depending on the outcome of their ballots. She said: “Members deeply


regret having to take this step to ballot for strike action, but they believe they need to take a strong stand now to make the government listen. “We will not ask members to do


anything to upset this summer’s exams. But ATL members are very angry – and it takes a lot to get them this angry. They do not accept the government’s view that the Teachers’ Pension Scheme needs to be reformed. The government still has not carried out a proper valuation, so there is no evidence that changes are needed.” NUT members, who met in


Harrogate from April 22 to 26, also agreed to ballot for action this June. General secretary Christine Blower said the move was a “clear message to government that teachers will not stand by as their pensions are eroded”. She added: “The support for this


motion, together with the similar motion passed by ATL conference, demonstrates the strength of feeling across the profession against the government’s plans.” Ms Blower said that agreements


made in 2006 led to changes which have made pensions “affordable for the long term”. She added: “The National Audit Office has confirmed that costs are falling as planned. “The NUT is fully involved in


talks with the government. We will continue to negotiate with the government, but we are balloting for strike action to help us get a fair deal for teachers. “The government is not taking


these talks seriously. They haven’t carried out the valuation – required by law – which would demonstrate the actual costs of our pensions.


They have implemented a change from RPI to CPI indexation with no negotiation and this will cost existing and future pensioners many thousands of pounds. “There is still time for the


government to enter serious negotiations and avoid strike action. We’ve paid for our pensions and we deserve them. Now is the time to defend them.” At NASUWT, which held its conference in Glasgow from


April 22 to 25, members passed a motion which stated: “Conference asserts that unless the coalition government ceases its attack on public sector pensions, joint union industrial action across the UK is inevitable.” The motion called upon the union to “play a key role in any joint industrial action”. However, general secretary


Chris Keates said it would be wrong to strike this summer while TUC negotiations with the government over the issue are still ongoing. Meanwhile, Russell Hobby,


general secretary of the NAHT, told Headteacher Update that potential industrial action over pensions would be on the agenda at their conference. He said that if approved by


members, strikes could take place in the autumn and that if this happens it would likely be a co-ordinated approach with other unions. He added: “People feel very


strongly about the final salary scheme proposals and for the government to prevent any action they need to negotiate openly and fairly.”


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